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He explained that having insurance exchanges already in place will give the state more control over what and how many health care insurance providers will be available to you.
"An exchange is just a market place where you can compare all the different types of insurance policies that are available and for sale in your state," he said.
He told us in the summer that if the exchanges, which are mostly an online endeavor, aren't already planned by the state, then the feds would have the right under the Affordable Health Care Act, to put their own in place for Mississippi. That's a move that he said would give Mississippi much less control over your health care choices.
But, his choice to begin planning for the exchanges meant to some that he was not doing what he could to protest Obama Care.
"As an elected official, I took an oath to obey the laws of our state and this nation," he said at the Neshoba County Fair, "and as Commissioner I must do that. Exchanges are not the issue. The issue is who will run the exchanges-the state, or the federal government."
Chaney stated publicly several times that he despised Obama Care and hoped for the election of a president who could get it repealed. But, barring that, he said it was his job to plan for it as if Obama Care would be the law of the land.
Chaney now says the tension that created between himself and some conservatives is over. He mentioned some members of the Tea Party specifically.
"It's history. I ran into several Tea Party folks (election night). Most of them shook my hand. Some of 'em even hugged me."
Chaney said it has become clear since the President was re-elected that it is now the job of everyone to do what is possible to avoid some of the financial ramifications that he and other conservatives believe will become evident with the Affordable Health Care Act in place.
